Amorphous Calcium Phosphates: Solvent-Controlled Growth and Stabilization through the Epoxide Route

Calcium phosphates stand among the most promising nanobiomaterials in key biomedical applications, such as bone repairment, signalling or drug/gene delivery. Their intrinsic properties as crystalline structure, composition, particle shape and size define their successful use. Among these compounds, metastable amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) is currently gaining particular attention due to its inherently high reactivity in solution, which is crucial in bone development mechanisms. However, the preparation of this highly desired (bio)material with control over its shape, size and phase purity remains as a synthetic challenge. In this work, the epoxide route was adapted for the synthesis of pure and stable ACP colloids. By using biocompatible solvents, such as ethylene glycol and/or glycerine, it was possible to avoid the natural tendency of ACP to maturate into more stable and crystalline apatites. Moreover, this procedure offers size control, ranging from small nanoparticles (60 nm) to micrometric spheroids (>500 nm). The eventual fractalization of the internal mesostructured can be tuned, by simply adjusting the composition of the ethylene glycol:glycerine solvent mixture. These findings introduce the use of green solvents as a new tool to control crystallinity and/or particle size in the synthesis of nanomaterials, avoiding the use of capping agents and preserving the natural chemical reactivity of the pristine surface.     

微波法研制碱土金属氧化物负载型MCM-48碱性介孔材料

以立方相介孔分子筛MCM-48为载体,用微波辐射分散MgO或CaO和醋酸镁溶液浸渍等方法研制碱性介孔材料。MCM-48能经受微波辐射,负载碱性客体之后也保持介相结构。异丙醇分解探针反应表明:载体本身没有碱催化活性,而碱性MCM-48介孔材料的活性随温度升高而提高。本文还对介孔材料在微波分散和碱性催化方面的特点进行分析。     

Thermodynamics of electrolyte solutions. The system HCl + CaCl2 + H2O at 298.15°K

Activity coefficients of hydrochloric acid have been determined from electromotive-force measurements of cells containing mixtures of hydrochloric acid and calcium chloride at constant total ionic strengthsI=0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mole-kg^–1 at 298.15°K. Interpretations based on Scatchard's and Pitzer's equations indicate that Pitzer's equations probably provide a more convenient guide to the thermodynamic properties of the mixed-electrolyte solutions. Activity coefficients for calcium chloride were derived from these equations.     

Macromolecule Loading into Spherical,Elliptical, Star‐Like and Cubic Calcium Carbonate Carriers

We fabricated calcium carbonate particles with spherical, elliptical, star‐like and cubical morphologies by varying relative salt concentrations and adding ethylene glycol as a solvent to slow down the rate of particle formation. The loading capacity of particles of different isotropic (spherical and cubical) and anisotropic (elliptical and star‐like) geometries is investigated, and the surface area of such carriers is analysed. Potential applications of such drug delivery carriers are highlighted.     

Steep pulsed electric fields modulate cell apoptosis through the change of intracellular calcium concentration

A steep electric pulsed field with low intensity (150–250 V/cm) and relative long time (10 min) was applied to adherent liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721 and the liver cell line HL-7702. Results showed that the electric field with intensity of 200 and 250 V/cm could trigger cell apoptosis, whereas the SMMC-7721 cell was more sensitive to the electric stimulation than the HL-7702 cell. Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) was used to measuring the real-time change of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration. When cells were exposed electric pulses with 100 V/cm intensity for 10 min, there was no significant change of intracellular calcium concentration. With the intensity increased to 200 and 250 V/cm, intracellular calcium concentration decreased significantly. Results demonstrated the relationship between the apoptosis and change of intracellular calcium concentration. And the steep electric pulsed field can be used to the cancer therapy.     

白云石制备似立方体状方解石型碳酸钙晶体及其机理研究

以轻烧白云石粉、氯化铵和二氧化碳为原料,在未使用晶型控制剂的情况下,通过蒸氨-沉钙过程制备出了似立方体状碳酸钙。研究了反应温度、溶液中钙离子浓度、通气速率、搅拌速度以及陈化时间对碳酸钙中方解石相含量以及晶体形貌的影响,并探索了沉钙反应的晶型控制机理。结果表明,在反应温度40 ℃、钙离子浓度0.05 mol/L、通碳速率100 mL/min、搅拌速度400 r/min和陈化时间2 h的条件下,制备出形貌规整、粒径分布均匀的似立方体状碳酸钙,平均粒径为5~10 μm。该研究为提升白云石的使用价值、生产高附加价值的碳酸钙产品,以及提高白云石资源的利用率提供理论基础。     

水热条件下不同形貌和晶相碳酸钙的形成和转化

利用碳酸氢钙水热分解制备了具有不同形貌和晶相的碳酸钙.在水热情况下,得到了多种形貌的方解石和霰石碳酸钙,研究了碳酸氢钙浓度、添加剂氯化镁浓度、反应时间和温度等对碳酸钙形貌和晶相的影响.以X射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电镜(SEM)对制备的碳酸钙进行了表征.研究发现,水热条件对碳酸钙形貌和晶相的形成以及演化过程有重要影响.水热条件下发现了稳定的碳酸钙晶相向亚稳定相转化的反常相变,对相关的形成及转化机理进行了相应的阐述.     

U：CaF2晶体的分凝特性与光谱性质

应用TGT法生长了直径为75mm的U：CaF2晶体，宏观上透明完整.应用公式K0=Cs/Cl计算了U在CaF2晶体中的分凝系数等于0.53.应用溶质分布一般公式Cs=K0C0(1-g)K0-1，计算U的浓度分布与测量值，数值符合说明晶体生长过程接近平衡状态.分析不同条件下生长的U: CaF2晶体的晶胞参数和吸收光谱，结果表明生长气氛决定U的价态及电荷补偿机理：无PbF2存在的条件下，U为+4价，晶体呈绿色；PbF2的加入起到氟化去氧作用，U倾向于以离子半径最接近于Ca2+的U3+存在，晶体呈红色.从晶体生长开始到结束的部位，U3+:CaF2晶体吸收光谱的峰位不变，峰强呈现与U浓度相同的增加趋势.U3+:CaF2晶体外层厚约5mm处呈黄色，含有U3+和U2+的混合价态离子，其原理是石墨坩埚的还原作用通过单质铅，使部分的U3+进一步还原成了U2+. 关键词： 铀 氟化钙晶体 分凝系数 晶胞参数